Collapsible tube filling and sealing machine



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J. H. FRIDEN 2,310,413

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COLLAPSIBLE TUBE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 1'7 Sheets-Sheet ll IN VENT OR.

JOW/k B Y M I W his ATT RNEY.

Feb. 9, 1943.

COLLAPSIBLE J. H. FRIDEN 2,310,413

TUBE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug 2. 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet l2 Feb. 9, 1943. mE 2,310,413

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE IN VEN TOR.

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' A. RNEY Feb. 9, 1943. J. H. FRIDEN 2,310,413

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 nfi Mix 164 167 v l A 169 Pink 169 H'WENTOR:

60 why/991% MATT NEY.

Feb, 9, 1943. FR|DEN 2,310,413

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 Line Vo/faqe 2 Imps.

IN VEN TOR Feb. 9, 1943.; mE 2,310,413

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 1 Inn INVENTORI 107171 771 am QMaW/ filis'AT RNEY.

Patented Feb. 9, 1943 COLLAP SIBLE TUBE'FILLING AND SEALING MACHINE John H. Fridn, Maplewood, N. J., assignor .to

The Sun Tube Corporation, Hillside, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,848

8 Claims.

The invention relates to collapsible metal tube machinery. It has particular reference to improvements in apparatus for the automatic packaging of liquids in soft metal collapsible tubes. It relates further to apparatus for fusing together the open ends of collapsible tubes by welding or similar operations.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved mechanism for performing in succession a number of operations incident the filling and sealing of collapsibl tubes. A icular object is to provide apparatus of this character which will perform most efiiciently a series of operations, some of which are to be performed while the tubes are at rest and others of which are to be performed while the tubes are moving.

.A further object is to provide improved apparatus for filling, flattening, trimming, welding and transferring collapsible tubes in the course of packaging liquids therein. One aspect of the provements in the mechanisms for filling, fiat-' tening, trimming, welding and transferring, to obtain greater simplicity and more rapid operation of the machine which is to perform these operations, and to best adapt these several mechanisms for the coordination of those operations which are continuous with those which are intermittent.

A specific object is to provide in apparatus of the class described an improved filling mechanism which will permit quiet transfer of the liquid in the operation of filling collapsible tubes; and to provide means for automatically adjusting with rapidity the final level of the liquid in the tubes.

A further specific object is to provide in apparatus of the class described improved mechanism for flattening and shearing the ends of the tubes to prepare them for welding. A particular feature of the flattening mechanism resides in providing means for supporting the tubes in inverted position on conveyor blocks while permitting a change in the contour of the side walls of the tube during the flattening operation.

A further specific object is to provide improved welding means embodying continuously moving rolls through which the flattened tube ends are arranged to be advanced at substantially uniform velocity. This aspect of the invention includes the provision of improved welding roll' structure particularly adapted to the welding of soft metal collapsible tubes which would be easily cut or otherwise damaged by ordinary welding rolls; and the provision of fluid temperature control means for electric welding rolls of the class described.

A further specific object is to provide improved mechanism arranged for cooperation with the I other elements of my filling and welding machine for transferring the tubes after filling and sealing, from the supporting and conveying apparatus to a receptacle, chute, or conveyor.

Other objects and advantages, will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive illustrate a machine for performing the operations of filling, flattening,

trimming, welding, and ejecting; Fig. 1 being a plan view of the machine; Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fi 1; Fig. 3 a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 (welding unit omitted).

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the dial at the delivery end of the machine as indicated on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 being a top plan view 01 Fig. 5, and showing the lefthand end of the machine as viewed in Fig. 1. Fig. '7 is an en larged detail vertical sectional view on the line T-l of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 show to a much larger scale one of the conveyor blocks; Fig. 8 being a plan view of such a block with the open collapsible tubes in place thereon; Fig. 9 a front elevational view partly in section; and Fig. 10 a transverse section view on the line IO-lll of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the relative movements and contours of the cams which control the operation of the machine.

Figs. 12 to 17, inclusive, are detail views of the filling mechanism; Fig. 12 being an enlarged transverse sectional view taken as indicated on the line l'2-I2 of Fig. 1 and showing the filling mechanism in side elevation; Fig. 13 an enlarged detail sectional view on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 a front elevational view partly in section of the upper part of the filling mechanism of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 a. detail sectional view on the line lS-IS of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 a detail sectional view on the line lB-IG of Fig. 15; and Fig. 17 a. detail sectional view showing one pair. of the filling conduits in another position.

Figs. 18 to 22, inclusive, are detail views of the mechanism for flattening and trimming the tube ends after the tubes have been filled and to prepare them for the welding operation; Fig. 18 being a plan view of the flattening mechanism; Fig. 19 a front elevation thereof; and Fig. 20 a side elevational view thereof partly in section. Fig. 21 is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of the trimming mechanism, which, except as to the portion illustrated, may be the same as the mechanism shown in Figs. 18, 19, and 20. Fig. 22 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2222 of Fig. 21.

Figs. 23 to 28, inclusive, are detail views showing the welding mechanism; Fig. 23 being a trans-, verse sectional view thereof; Fig. 24 a top plan view thereof; Fig. 25 a horizontal sectional view on the line 2525 of Fig. 23; Fig. 26 a ver-' tical sectional view on the line 26-26 of Fig. 25; Fig. 27 an enlarged detail vertical sectional view of one of the welding heads shown in Fig. 23; and Fig. 28 a diagram showing the electrical connections for the welding circuit.

Figs. 29 to 34, inclusive, are detail views showing the mechanism for ejecting the sealed tubes from the conveyor blocks and for discharging them from the machine; Fig. 29 being a front elevational view of this mechanism with related conveying structure shown in transverse section; Fig. 30 a transverse sectional view on the line 30-30 of Fig. 29; Fig. 31 a vertical sectional view on the line 3|3l of Fig. 29; Fig. 32 a detail view of the discharging cam and roller arm;

Fig. 33 a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3333 of Fig. 29; and Fig. 34, a view similar to Fig. 33 but with'the parts in another position.

-In the preferred form of apparatus which I have shown for the purpose of illustration, there is an endless conveyor arranged with intermittently rotating drive members or dials at each end and continuously rotating drive members between the dials; all of thesedrive members cooperating to produce forward movement of a series of conveyor blocks or tube holders. The drive is so arranged that these blocks are advanced intermittently to and beyond certain stations of operation but are moved at substantially constant velocity past another operating station or stations. In my preferred arrangement the blocks are moved intermittently to and beyond filling, flattening, and trimming stations; then moved continuously and at substantially constant velocity past a welding station; and finally advanced intermittently to and beyond an ejecting station. If desired, there may be included also means for advancing the blocks intermittently to and beyond a loading station; and means for advancing the blocks continuously past one folding station and intermittently to and beyond a second folding station. This arrangement is subject to modification to include means for performing further operations upon the tubes while moving or at rest, as may be desired.

In the particular arrangement which I am about to. describe, the average velocity of the blocks produced by the intermittent driving.

means is substantially equal to the velocity produced by the continuous driving means. To accomplish this, the two driving means are coordinated in such a way that during certain portion of their travel, each block is advanced in turn at an accelerated rate which leaves a gap between it and the succeeding block, which gap is subsequently closed at the termination of an interval during which. the tubes carried by'certain of the blocks are being operated upon while at rest and the tubes carried by others of the blocks are being operated upon while in motion. The means for producing the intermittent and continuous advance of blocks also are so correlated that at the conclusion of the last rest period of each block before passing a continuous operating station, the block is advanced at an accelerated rate such that the gap between it and the preceding block is closed, thus forming a solid train of blocks past the continuous station.

The frame of the machine consists generally of an operating table I, with means, such as=a platform or shelf 2, positioned below it for supporting the driving mechanism.

Conveniently arranged adjacent the surface of the operating table l are a pair of intermittently rotatable drive members or dials 3, 4. These dials may be set into circular wells formed at either end of the operating table. The dials are keyed to shafts 5 and 6 to which are secured ratchet wheels I and 8 with cooperating pawls 9 and I0 mounted on pawl frames or links H and I2, these frames, being mounted for oscillation around the shaft 5 and 5. Springs l3 and M (Fig. 3) are arranged to hold the pawls 9 and H) in engagement with the ratchets 1 and 3. Connecting links l5 and I6 are pivotally secured at one end to the pawl frames H and I2 and at their'other ends arepivotally secured to a rocker arm II which in turn is pivotally secured to the under side of the table A spring l8 (Fig. 3) serves to hold the rocker arm and con necting links in the retracted position shown in the drawings.

The rocker arm I! is actuated by means of a cam mounted on the main drive shaft 20, the cam l3 engaging a roller 2| on a rocker arm 22, one end of which is pivoted to a pedestal 23 mounted on the platform 2 and the other end of which is connected by a link 24 to one end of the rocker arm l1. Rotation of the cam l9 oscillates the rocker arm l'l, producing intermittent rotation of the dials 3 and 4 as the pawls 9 and H) engage succeeding notches of the ratchets I and 8.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each of the dials 3 and 4 carries a number of cogs 25 arranged to engage recesses 26 formed in the conveyor blocks 21. These cogs are slidably mounted in guides 28 secured to, or formed on, the dials. The extent of the slidable movement of the cogs in the guides 28 is limited by studs 29 which project into slots 30 in the cogs. The cogs 25 are resiliently urged radially outwardly of the dials by means of springs 3| engaging abutments 32 on the dials.

The main drive shaft 20, journaled in suitable bearings 33, is driven from a motor 34 through 4 a belt and pulley connection 35, speed reducer are driven from the main shaft 20 through bevel gears 45, shaft 41, and the chain and sprocket drive 48, 43, to the sprockets 50 and 5| keyed to the shafts 44 and 45 respectively.

By the driving means which I have described. comprising the intermittently rotating dials 3 and 4 and the continuously rotating pinions 4| and 42,

all of which engage the conveyor blocks 21, these blocks are propelled around an endless path defined by ways or channels formed by longitudinal outer and inner guides 52, 53, secured to the top of the table I in parallel spaced relation, and semicircular guides 54 connecting the ends of the outer pair of longitudinal guides 52. The guiding channel is completed by the cylindricalsides of the dials 3 and 4 which join the inner pair of guides 53. The guides 52, 53, and 54 preferably are provided with inwardly projecting flanges overlying the top edges of the conveyor blocks 21, and the dials 3 and 4 similarly may be provided with a flange arranged to overlie the top edges of the blocks. For this purpose I find it convenient to make the dials l and 4 in the fonn of hollow drums, the cylindrical side walls of which complete the inner side walls of the guideways, and the cover member 55 of which may extend beyond the walls of the drums to overlie the inner top edges of the blocks. The cylindrical walls of the dial drums are slotted, as at 55 (Fig. 6), to receive the cogs 25 previously described.

With particular reference to Figs. 8, 9, and 10,

I shall now describe a preferred construction of,

the conveyor blocks. These blocks may be constructed for supporting any desired number of tubes. I have illustrated a block for supporting a pair of tubes 51. Along the inside edge of the block there is provided the rack 43 previously referred to. I prefer that the body 58 of the block be made of aluminum and the rack 43 of steel, the two parts being secured together in any convenient manner as by means of the dowels and screws 59. If desired, however, the rack may be made integral with the body of the block. The.

outside edge 60 of the block is parallel to the rack 43 over the central portion of the block for engagement with the outer pair of parallel guides 52, and terminates in arcuate portions 6| for engagement with the semicircular guides 54.

The length of the blocks is such that when they are placed end to end, the racks 43 will abut to form a continuous rack of uniform pitch, permitting the blocks to be advanced in an unbroken series by the pinions 4| and 42.

The arcuate recess 26 previously referred to, is formed in the bottom of each block nearthe leading edge of the rack 43 for engagement with the cogs 25 of the intermittently rotating dials 2 and 4. The depth of the recess 25 is less than the width of the rack 43 so that the series of teeth remains unbroken from end to end of the block.

A pair of bosses 63, extending upwardly from the body 58 of the block, provide additional support for tube-receiving sockets 54 which are disposed in apertures extending through the body and connecting bosses. The bosses are cut away at each side of the block to form slots 65 parallel to the sides of the block for engagement with the guides 52, 53, and 54. The sockets 64 are provided with an axial bore suitably shouldered to ing-long nozzles.

The apparatus which I have described thus far provides means for conveying collapsible tubes intermittently to and beyond filling, flattening, and trimming stations, for thereafter advancin the tubes past a welding station at uniform velocity, and finally for advancing the tubes intermittently to and beyond other stations of operation. The cam i9 which controls the intermittent movement of the conveyor blocks is so constructed as to accelerate and decelerate the advance of theblocks with pauses in their forward movement at the operating stations, while maintaining an average velocity of advance which is substantially equal to the uniform velocity produced by the pinion drive 4|, 42. The contour of the cam I9 is shown in Fig. 11. The cooperating roller 2| is there shown in the position which 00- incides with the beginning of the intermittent movement of the dials. Except as otherwise indicated, all of the drawings show the parts of the machinein the position which they occupy at the moment that the dials are about to move.

The contour of the cam |9 is such a to advance the blocks at first slowly, than more rapidly, and again slowly before the conclusion of the intermittent advance. This prevents spilling of the liquid in the filled tubes during their advance to and beyond the flattening and trimming stations, while maintaining an average velocity over the intermittent portion of the conveyor block travel which is substantially equal to the uniform velocity over the continuous portion of the travel. With particular reference to the diagram, Fig. 11, I shall now describe the preferred contour of the dial cam IS in more detail.

As the cam contour moves from right to left as viewed in the diagram, the roller 2| first traverses a relatively flat portion of the contour from 180' to about 225 of the circumference. The contour of the cam for this interval may be described as an harmonic or gravity curve. During this interval the block which is opposite the trimming station in Fig. 1 will have moved slowly toward the position in which the preceding block is shown (position a). Just beyond position a, the cog 25 of dial 4 become disengaged from the block which has occupied that position, and the block which has passed the the block which has left position a, and the block which has left the loading station, to catch up with the continuously moving train of blocks ahead of them, to be coupled into the trains by the engagement of their rack portions with the pinions 4| and 42 at the moment that the last blocks in the trains have passed the driving pinions. The action just described closes the gaps i9 and Il (Fig. 1), and simultaneously opens a gap at the rear of the block which is about to enter the filling station and also at the rear of the block which i approaching posi-- tion b. During the interval between the time-1 that the gaps 59 and II have been closed and the time that the blocks from position a and the loading station are engaged respectively by the driving pinions 4| and 42, the velocity of these 

